Head-to-head · Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Timemore Chestnut C2 vs Timemore Chestnut C3

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Timemore Chestnut C3 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about entry-level manual grinder users — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Timemore Chestnut C2

4.4

$79

The Timemore Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder is praised by Wirecutter as an excellent budget-friendly option under $100, offering portable, consistent grinding with a sleek metal build. Tom's Guide also recommends it as one of the cheapest ways to grind on the go, noting its compact size and smooth operation. However, reviewers note its small capacity limits full pot brewing, and it's not ideal for espresso. The grinder's plastic components may concern some users regarding long-term durability, though it's described as reliable for daily use. It's best suited for those who enjoy the meditative process of hand-grinding and value portability over convenience.

Strengths

— Sleek, well-made metal construction with precise machining and smooth grinding mechanism
— Portable and compact design, just 6 inches tall, fits in travel bag
— Stainless steel adjustable burrs allow for consistent grind size adjustments

Watch-outs

— Small capacity requires multiple grinding cycles for full pot of coffee
— Not suitable for espresso due to inability to achieve fine enough grind
— Some internal plastic parts may raise durability concerns for some users

$79 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Coffee Grinders Under $200

Timemore Chestnut C3

4.5

$69

The Timemore Chestnut C3 represents an incremental update to the popular C2, featuring new S2C burr technology and a steel dial indicator. However, reviewers noted that the new burrs are slower than the previous model, reducing grinding speed from 0.8-1g/sec to around 0.5g/sec. While the design remains largely unchanged with its aluminum body and stainless steel components, the inclusion of plastic internals has raised concerns among some users. The C3S variant is recommended for filter coffee enthusiasts, while the C3 ESP offers more precise adjustments for espresso brewing. Despite these drawbacks, it remains a budget-friendly option for those seeking entry-level manual grinding capabilities.

Strengths

— Features new S2C burr technology that Timemore claims improves grind consistency
— Includes a steel dial indicator instead of plastic on the newer model
— Lightweight design at just 423g, making it easy to handle during use

Watch-outs

— New S2C burrs are slower than the previous C2 burrs, grinding at ~0.5g/sec vs 0.8-1g/sec
— Still uses plastic stabilizers internally which some users may find concerning
— Grinder speed and performance are described as a step back compared to the C2

$69 · Buy at timemore.com Full review →

How they stack up

Timemore Chestnut C2

The Timemore Chestnut C2 offers excellent value and portability, outperforming the Cuisinart Supreme Grind in consistency and build quality, but it's less precise than the 1Zpresso J-Max and lacks the fine-tune settings of the Baratza Virtuoso Plus. It's more affordable than the Fellow Opus but not as versatile for espresso.

Timemore Chestnut C3

The Timemore Chestnut C3 improves on the C2 with a steel dial indicator and S2C burrs, but it's slower and still uses plastic components, unlike the 1Zpresso J-Max's titanium-coated burrs. It's less precise than the Baratza Virtuoso Plus and not as versatile as the Fellow Opus, but it remains a budget-friendly option for basic manual grinding.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Timemore Chestnut C2	Timemore Chestnut C3
Grind Settings	Adjustable stainless steel burrs	12 clicks (C3S), 30 clicks (C3 ESP)
Capacity	20 grams	—
Material	Metal body with plastic parts	Aluminum body with stainless steel burrs
Burr Size	—	38mm

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